CAUGHT IN ACT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 4, 6 January 1937, Page 8

CAUGHT IN ACT.

YOUTH STEALING BENZINE. — ; — t CONSTABLE'S ALERTNESS. While driving home in his cnr on Monday niglit Constable Maloney, of Papatoetoe, had his suspicions aroused by the actions of two youths xyho were standing beside a parked car on the Great South Road. The constable drove on a short distance and then popped his c.r and returned on foot. On arriving at the car he could see no trace of the youths, but after searching around he found them lying in the grass nearby. When accosted by the constable they denied that they had been guilty of any offence, but when a further search revealed a length of hose and a twogallon benzine can they admitted that they had siphoned benzine from the tank of , the parked car. They were arrested and brought into Otahuhu, where the elder of the two was kept in- custody. The younger, being a juvenile, was sent home and will appear before the Children's Court in due course. ■ William Henry Sherman, a labourer, aged 18, Appeared the Police' Court at Otahuhu yesterday before Messrs. "S. Rickards and J. V. Lawes.JJP.'sj charged with the theft of three gallons of benzine,. valued .fct 5/8, the property of James Webb, ,of Papatoetoe. i Constable. , Maloney,; ' after;; giving details of the arrest, skid that .accused bad told him he hadbeenharvesting in the' Wp.ikato and returning home when his car ran out ofybenzine. He had taken three gallons firom the tank of the packed car. ' v * _' V."'. In view of accused's" youth and the fact that nothing was • known against him previously, the Bench convicted Sherman and ordered him to come up Tor sentence within: six months if called upon. The Benc-h admonished him severely. •.' K S 1 '